PSE’s Dustin Jones What to take with you on a Hunt.

There are so many different situations and different types of hunts that will require you to pack different things. With that being said, there are some things that I always pack with me regardless if it is just a morning hunt or a 5 day backcountry hunt; things that I feel are important to pack with me.

PSE’s Dustin Jones Hydration Bladder & Filter

The first one that I always pack is water. No matter what type of hunting I am doing, I try to make sure I have plenty of drinking water. Shorter trips are easier to pack water for but for those longer trips I make sure to have a water filtration system with me. The water bladder I use has an inline water filter which allows me to fill it with stream water and ensures I have clean drinking water whenever.

I always take my camera with me as well. I don’t pack a bulky DSLR camera but a high quality compact camera can be found in my pack. Once you arrow that animal of a lifetime you’ll want to snap some great photos of the animal in the field. Also I enjoy taking pictures of the scenery. One of the best things about hunting is seeing nature at its finest. Enjoying those moments and being able to share them with family and friends or just hold onto them for you yourself is why I carry a camera with me.

PSE’s Dustin Jones Bow Tool

Probably one of the most important things I have in my pack is a multi-tool to work on my bow. I carry it because you never know what can happen while you are out there. You may find a screw has come loose, or you notice something is off just enough to throw you off and you need to fix it. Packing a multi-tool will help save you from ending a hunt early.

Also knowing that whatever can happen may happen while hunting; I am sure to have a first aid kit. I’m not talking about a large, bulky kit that takes a lot of space but something small that has Band-Aids, gauze, tweezers, tape, and medications for pain as well as allergies. I personally pack duct tape because it has multiple uses and sticks very well to just about anything.

PSE’s Dustin Jones Using Hydration Bladder To Cook

A GPS unit is helpful for either style of hunting. Whether it is a short morning hunt or a 5 day trip, the GPS can help you in multiple ways. You will be able to navigate your way around so you don’t get lost but also with a GPS you will be able to mark certain spots so you can return to them later on which is extremely helpful when tracking an animal. A lot of times while I’m out hunting I stumble upon a water hole or some new bedding areas that look very well used and promising that I would like to come back to. By marking them I will be able to return to them later on to give them a try.

These are some of the necessities that I pack with me on all of my hunts which I have found to be very useful. I don’t want to weigh my pack down on either type of hunt but I find these to be some of the most common things I pack with me.

Dustin Jones is a passionate outdoorsman who loves to hunt, especially bowhunt. He created his blog, HighCountryBowhunter.com, to share his experiences with others. He is a Field Staff member for DIYbowhunter.com and Adventure Team member for MINOX Hunting Optics.

Dustin was born and raised in Eastern Idaho where he currently resides with his wife and two sons.